Chesterfield: Spireites complete Clucas deal

Spireites have signed left-sided attacker Sam Clucas from neighbours Mansfield Town for an undisclosed fee.

The 23-year-old, previously with Lincoln and Hereford, had been on Paul Cook’s radar a year ago.

Last week it looked as though there was too big a gap between fee offered and fee wanted and the Stags announced that he was staying at Field Mill.

However Clucas subsequently told Stags boss Paul Cox he wasn’t prepared to sign a new deal at the end of this season, so channels reopened and Cook got his man. He’s contracted until the summer of 2017.

Chesterfield have also signed 29 year old non-league journeyman Carl Lamb on a non-contract basis as they prepare to face Scunthorpe amidst an injury crisis.

It will be an inexperienced 11 that starts at Scunthorpe United tonight as the Spireites start their JPT campaign.

Charlie Raglan and Jack Broadhead will make their first ever senior starts in the heart of Chesterfield’s back four.

Paul Cook is also likely to throw in winger Gboly Ariyibi, though the ex-Southampton raider was due to jet of to America today, a trip booked before his contract was offered.

The manager is hopeful the carrot of a senior start will persuade the man who was at Leeds last season to postpone the trip.

Armand Gnanduillet, under investigation by the FA for an incident in the tunnel at the end of the Port Vale match before he was allegedly racially abused, is set to lead the attack again with Ollie Banks expected to start in an attacking midfield role.

Non-contract striker Carl Lamb, 29, will be on the bench. He scored four against the Blades last week in a private match and has been rewarded with a spot in the squad. He has recently been playing in Australia.

Finalists in 2014 and winners in 2012, Chesterfield will be desperate to win though the task looks tough one due to the absentee list coupled with the fact that Scunthorpe will be buoyed up after a 2-0 home win over Walsall on Saturday.

Former Spireite Gary McSheffrey scored a cracking free-kick in the weekend win.